I own both.

White Water is more accessible to new players. It's easy and has great flow and is easier to reach the wizard mode.

The Shadow has a tougher learning curve, and is more brutal. Still possible to beat the game, but a lot harder to do than on Wh2o. It has different ways to reach a high score, and the scoring is very balanced.

Initially, I thought Wh2o was better because it's easier. But Shadow is absolutely the better game in my opinion. I'd sell Wh20 because it can get monotonous. I still like it, but Shadow remains the more exhilarating game of the two.

This is true, but the ramp shots also provide some strategy because the player can control which mode will be active. You can rotate the active mode left or right, depending on the ramp diverter direction. And the left ramp is the skill shot (and big points with Vengeance, as you mentioned). True, not needed for Final Battle, but not nothing, either.

WH20 modes always start in the same order, and only change with random pop bumper hits.

Wh2o does utilize the whole pf with the lit hazards, but is still possible to reach vacation jackpot via secret passage and awards to advance rafts. This allows you to avoid ever making certain shots, (like the right orbit, the toughest shot in the game) to reach vacation jackpot.

I also think the lost mine and the bigfoot loop are unnecessary shots to reach vacation jackpot.

White Water is easier than Shadow, so when you first play either, you'll have more fun on White Water with less frustration.

As you improve on both, Shadow kicks its ass on challenge and adrenaline. It just has a steeper learning curve.

After time, White Water will feel more repetitive. Shadow will remain challenging, with more variety to approach high scores.

I've owned and loved both for years. But I play Shadow much more than White Water.

Other Shadow tricks:

During Duel of Wills video mode, pull the launch trigger to clear the Phurbas for a few seconds to make scoring the EB easier.

Also, during MB, if you can catch a ball half way up a ramp and then quickly turn a diverter, you can continue MB with a ball safely out of play.

Yes. But to be fair, this move was explained to me by a top player. I have yet to pull it off.

The 6 river classes is probably the easiest item to achieve since there are two ways to get it.

Either by hitting the left targets or (more easily) by repeatedly rolling over the lit insert which is controlled by the flippers. Just keep shooting to the upper pf and let it feed to the lit insert.

Once you've got level 6, drain all you want with no concern of losing your progress.

I've owned both TS and Wh2o for over 7 years. Vacation Jackpot has always been easier to reach than Final Battle. I've gotten Vacation Jackpot way more often.

Wh2o is just much easier to control the ball to feed the flippers for controlled shooting.

Yes you are right. I do have the wh2o home rom. I didn't know it changed the river class 6 rules.

I'll say the biggest cheat with the home rom is the ball save.

Starting modes in Shadow is much harder than in Wh2o. And getting a Super Jackpot in shadow is a very rare event for me and extremely rewarding.

Both are good games but I prefer the greater challenge of TS.